Ice, Ice, Baby

Remember last May when I got that super duper steal of a deal on a Whirlpool Gold french door refrigerator, just because of a missing ice dispenser paddle?

I shared here that we paid $892 for a frig that retails for $2099.  I had every intention to replace the paddle, then install the frig, but they didn't sell the part locally so we just installed the frig.  We hooked up the icemaker, and would occasionally dump it out into a tray in the freezer below.  It wasn't a big deal to open the freezer for ice, but the lack of a paddle befuddled guests and that was never more on display then over Christmas.  After my MIL stood with a glass at the dispenser for much too long, I decided enough was enough and went online to order the part.

Yay for Sears PartsDirect!  They have pretty much every part you could possibly need for every appliance in your home.  Plus handy dandy diagrams just in case you don't know the name of the part(s) you need.  It turns out I needed the paddle($4.20) and a chute spring($5.03.)  Without the assembly diagram, I probably would have just ordered the paddle, then been kicking myself when I tried to install it.

Here's how I replaced the ice paddle.  First I pulled the bottom tray out.

I took out the screws that the tray was hiding.

And pulled off the face.

I called in my assistant(WD) to hold the face while I installed the paddle.  I'd like to say that this part was so quick that I forgot to take a pic, but the reality is that there was an awful lot of swearing as I fought with the spring.  At one point WD said, "Why don't you just have dad do it?"  Because. I. Can. Do. It. Myself.  There.

After installing the spring and paddle, push the assembly back in,

and screw the assembly back on.  Notice the lockout light is on.  If your model doesn't have a lockout, it'd be a good idea to unplug your frig or have some towels handy during the paddle replacement.

Snap the face back on and slide the tray back in.

We have ice,

and water through the door.

For less than $10 in parts, we saved over $1200.  And the whole job, even with the swearing, only took 15 minutes. Sears didn't perk me or pay me for this post, but I'll say it again, their PartsDirect website made it really easy to find the parts I needed and their prices were fantastic.

Thanks for popping in and DIYing with me.